Information Books/Resources > Natural World

Did you know there was once a beaver that was two metres long? That the elephant-bird really did exist? And that the dodo once had a life beyond the pages of Alice in Wonderland? Have you heard of the megatherium, the glyptodon or the tratratratra? Through legend and mythology, anecdotes and scientific facts, the authors tell fascinating stories of the strange animals that disappeared before our time. The book is a tragicomedy, and a mine of information for everyone interested in the animal world.

This clever ZooBooKoo cube book has 6 'pages' on one side, then turn them inside out to find another 6 'pages'. Facts and figures at your finger tips - fun educational gift for compulsive fiddling and learning. Features Kiwi, Blue Penguin, Hector's Dolphin, Humpback Whale, Kea, Takahe, Pukeko, Tuatara, Kakapo, Long-tailed Bat, Yellow Eyed Penguin and Tui. Size (flat packaged) 90mm x 50mm

At first glance, it might seem that the average New Zealand garden is not the best place to find wildlife - but look again. Bugs and ants are climbing trees while geckos wait in the foliage for their lunch, hedgehogs are sleeping in the back hedge and spiders are getting kicked out of their homes by tree wetas - there is indeed a whole lot going on! The immediacy of the backyard inspires many opportunities for environmental discovery. Young New Zealand children spend time examining animal, insect and plant life without really kno... read more

Rangitito: Te toka tu moana /The Rock Standing in the Ocean tells the dramatic story of Auckland's most striking icon - its birth, the kaka bird's connection to Rangitoto, the imprint of humans on its fragile wildlife, and how the island's guardians are saving it today. Maria Gill's lyrical and informative story accompanied by Heather Arnold's superbly detailed illustrations make Rangitoto a book to be treasured and pored over by children and adults alike.

This is a monumental and extraordinarily beautiful guide to the Earth's natural wonders. 5 years in the making, covering over 5,000 species, "The Natural History Book" is one-of-a-kind; the only book to offer a complete survey of the Earth's natural history. Each geological and biological grouping is introduced and explained in an engaging and highly informative way, making it the perfect addition to every family bookshelf, as well as an ideal gift for every nature lover. It is packed with thousands of stunning, specially commissio... read more

Including a timeline that spans the Age of Dinosaurs through the Age of Change to the Age of Settlement, this book is a superb introduction to the subject of New Zealand's past. Children will learn about extinct wildlife and indentify current endangered species. Terrific illustartions by Dave Gunson along with hundreds of interesting facts, make this an ideal introduction to the fascinating story of New Zealand's extinct wildlife.

The Big Book of New Zealand Wildlife is the most comprehensive collection of birds, animals, insects, fish, plants and fungi available for readers aged 7 to 14 years old. Talented author and illustrator Dave Gunson introduces over 400 species through his incredible lifelike, colourful illustrations - some are in the most interesting poses, too! This wildlife encyclopaedia, in a completely new format to his popular All About series, also introduces children to the mysteries and science of Gondwanaland, and endangered and extinct spe... read more

Animals on the Farm features all the common varieties of farm animal, with an emphasis on particularly interesting facts about them, and the ways in which children relate to them, as well as their usefulness to us. Also included are those which are less common, less commercially successful, possibly still at an experimental stage; plus a couple of surprise inclusions at the end.

Have you heard the phrase 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours?' New Zealand's plants, animals, fungi and other tiny organisms grew to live in, on and around each other, with very little interference from the rest of the world, since separating from Gondwana over 80 million years ago. This has created many unusual relationships in the wild - some friendly and some not so friendly! With highly readable text, fascinating facts and superb photographs by Rod Morris, Nicola Vallance explores the co-existence of New Zealand wil... read more

An interesting take on exploring global issues through maps, figures, images, statistics and extensive lists of facts. Over the past few centuries, human activity has pushed hundreds, if not thousands, of species to extinction, and we have endangered thousands more. This book looks at how hunting, overfishing, habitat destruction, climate change and other factors have threatened many of the plants and animals of this planet, and examines what we can do to reverse this trend.

Do you suffer from spheksophobia, arachnophobia or ophidiophobia? What should you do if you're stung by a wasp? Whose bite is more dangerous - Mr or Mrs Katipo's? Which snake spits its venom? And just how many poisons lie around your house? Learn the answers to all these perplexing questions and more by reading Poisonous Stuff. You need to watch your step in a world full of fangs, stingers and brightly coloured lures - but did you know that some poisons can actually be useful? Packed with toxic topics and creepy-crawly quizzes... read more

This title contains geography with the gritty bits left in. Where in the world can you: Tuck into a poisonous pufferfish? Spot some perilous pirates? Explore the savage seabed?

Contains geography with the gritty bits left in.

Much more than a guide to the natural world, this book delves into the many fascinating phenomena that can be found in the animals and plants which surround us. Find out why snow can sometimes turn red, how lizards keep cool in the desert and how a wheel spider outwits its predators as well as many other amazing occurrences in the natural world which is guaranteed to engross any child. It features stunning full colour photography. It is internet-linked to help readers build on their knowledge by accessing over 100 relevant websites.

Kingfisher's encyclopedias are award-winning, information-packed reference books for all the family. The new, updated Classic editions are beautiful versions of these trusted favourites - perfect for gifts and reference alike. "The Kingfisher Classic Nature Encyclopedia" explores the amazing diversity of life on Earth, from microscopic organisms to giant redwoods and blue whales, and on every part of the Earth's surface from tropical rainforests to dark ocean depths. If you want one nature encyclopedia, this is it!

A fascinating book by Hamish Campell and Geof Hicks, now in it's 5th reprint, providing a glimpse into the science behind the natural hazards that threaten New Zealand. Illustrates in detail some of New Zealand's most memorable natural disasters and discusses what we can do to survive inevitable future disasters.

Go on a journey to the top ten most amazing natural wonders on Earth - from awesome mountains to steamy jungles, icy glaciers to dusty deserts. Find out how they were formed, meet the wildlife who live there and explore their breathtaking features. Discover how the Grand Canyon got so grand, what makes Antarctica so icy and why Mount Everest is higher than the rest. Spectacular fold-out pages, amazing pictures, maps and charts will take you face-to-face with nature in astonishing detail. It's an eye-popping tour of the natural world.

Get under the skin of life in the wild, exploring animal anatomy and behaviour. Help your child learn all about the anatomy and behaviour of wild animals. They'll find out how fish breathe underwater, discover how caterpillars transform into butterflies and why stags grow huge antlers every year. From bats' ears to skeletons, anatomical diagrams uncover the structures and systems of animal bodies, showing in incredible detail how they work. Stunning images show wild animals in their native habitats, revealing how they use their ana... read more

This is a book about nature for naughty kids. Nice kids learn about the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly and tadpoles turning into frogs. Naughty kids want to know about squashed hedgehogs and dead pukeko. Nice kids like to look at books with pretty pictures of puppy dogs and kittens. Naughty kids would rather see blood and guts and maggots. And dinosaurs. Don't forget the dinosaurs.

The 4th edition of this classic work, first published in 1947. It provides a simple ready reference for identifying common New Zealand animals, ranging from the simplest invertebrates through to mammals. The text has been updated and Powell's illustrations have been rescanned from the originals, resulting in high quality reproductions. A unique introduction to New Zealand's fauna.